Oakleigh Shopping Precinct to Receive Grant to Help Remove and Prevent Graffiti (27.11.2012)

Written on the 9 January 2013

Local and community-based projects will receive a total of $300,000 to wipe out and help prevent unsightly graffiti under the latest round of the Victorian Coalition Government’s graffiti grants, Minister for Crime Prevention Andrew McIntosh announced today.

Eighteen community partnership projects, including one in the City of Monash at Oakleigh, have been awarded grants of up to $25,000 each.

“Unsightly and illegal graffiti has a significant negative effect on the local streetscape,” Mr McIntosh said.

Local MP Georgie Crozier said that Oakleigh’s $24,580 graffiti grant will help prevent and remove graffiti at the Oakleigh Shopping Precinct.

“Graffiti and destruction to private property is a problem this government is all too aware of and proactive steps are being taken to reduce graffiti within our community.” Ms Crozier said.

Mr McIntosh also celebrated a key milestone for the Coalition Government’s Graffiti Removal Program – a state wide program which sees offenders on community orders remove graffiti from community assets, private property, the rail corridor and local and State Government assets.

“This month the program celebrates a major milestone, with 1.5 million square metres of graffiti removed since the program started in late 2005,” Mr McIntosh said.

Mr McIntosh said the Coalition Government was providing the grant funding and support to ensure local councils could effectively tackle graffiti problems at a local level.

“Public murals and public art have been shown to reduce the incidence of illegal graffiti.”

The grants are part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s broader $35 million Community Crime Prevention Program, which provides support and funding for local communities to identify and prioritise local crime issues to help deliver a safer, more secure Victoria.